Court Remands Pharmacist Over Illegal Dealing In Cocaine-Like Analgesic
A pharmacist, Ikwebe Ori Helen, was Thursday, remanded at the Kirikiri female section of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), by a Lagos Federal High Court, for alleged unlawful dealing in hard drugs.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo, ordered that Pharmacist Ikwebe be remanded after she pleaded not guilty to the two counts charge of conspiracy and unlawful transportation of 51.10 kilograms of Pentazocine Injection 30mg, a Narcotic analgesic, similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin.
The pharmacist, according to the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, on June 1, procured one Agadi Sunday, to transport the banned drug from Maiven Medics International Ltd, a Pharmaceutical Company in Lagos to Murtala Muhammed Domestic Airport, Ikeja-Lagos enroute Kaduna, Kaduna.
The prosecutor also told the court that the defendant, was arrested on June 8, with the banned analgesic, when she wanted to ferry same to Kaduna State, via Murtala Muhammed Domestic Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
He told the court that the offences committed by the pharmacist, contravened sections 21 (2)(d) and 20 (1)(a)of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 11(b) of the said Act.
However, the pharmacist pleaded not guilty to the charges. And with her not guilty plea, the court order her lawyer, Mr. Dennis Warri and the prosecutor, Mr. Ibrahim, to argue on the bail application.
Justice Oweibo, after taken arguments on the bail application, admitted the pharmacist to bail in the sum of N5 million, with one surety in like sum.
The court ordered that the surety must be a resident within the jurisdiction of the court, and that the bail terms be verified by the Court’s Registrar.
The judge however, ordered that the pharmacist be remanded at the female section of the Kirikiri center of the NCoS, while adjourned the matter till sep20, for commencement of trial.
Charge That you Ikwebe Ori Helen, Female, Adult on or about the 1st June, 2023 procured one Agadi Sunday, to transport 51.10kilograms of Pentazocine Injection 30mg, a Narcotic Analgesic, similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin from Maiven Medics International Ltd, a Pharmaceutical Company in Lagos to Murtala Muhammed Domestic Airport, Ikeja-Lagos enroute Kaduna, Kaduna State and you thereby committed an act contrary to section 21 (2) (d) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 11(b) of the said Act.
Count II: That you Ikwebe Ori Helen, Female, Adult on or about the 8th June, 2023 transports 51.10kilogranis of Pentazocine Injection 30mg, a Narcotic Analgesic, similar to Cocaine, LSD, Heroin from Malven Medics International Ltd, a Pharmaceutical Company in Lagos, Lagos to Kaduna, Kaduna State and you thereby committed an act contrary to section 20 (1) (a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 20 (2) (a) of the said Act.”
